[Grammar] used to vs would

[terrytower]

I would like to know the difference between used to and would,because I don't know what you mean when you say " Past states" . Could you write some sentences where I could see clearly the diffference

 

[BobK]

'Used to' is much more common; 'would' is quite literary, or just knowing/self-aware. I think the difference is more one of register than of meaning. I would say 'In the sixties I used to go to school'; I might write something like 'During my schooldays I would often walk to the station and save my bus-money.' In both cases I'm dealing with something I did regularly in the past. - but the tone is different.

b

 

[5jj]

Both 'used to' and 'would' can be used for past habitual actions, happening, and events, but only 'used to' is used for past states. Past states are those described by verbs of being, seeming, possessing and those describing feelings.

As BobK implied, it's usually safer to use 'used to'.

 

[BobK]

Thanks for putting words to what I was thinking - the' past states' thing hadn't occurred to me

b.

 

[birdeen's call]

You want sentences, terrytower. Here are some.

I used to be a happy person. :tick:
I would be a happy person. :cross:

Being a happy person is a state. It's not something you do. We cannot use "would" here. We can use "used to".

When I was younger, I used to walk to work. :tick:
When I was younger, I would walk to work. :tick:

Walking to work is an activity. It's something you do. We can use both "would" and "used to" here.

 

[terrytower]

thank you very much , your answers have been very useful for me . Sometimes Books are not clear enough